Beet loader



Sept. 12, 1950 J. M. SCHUCH 2,522,304

BEET LOADER Filed Dec. 26, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet i v a u R m g INVENTOR.

i lil'lllllllflllllll A TTORNEY Sept. 12, 1950 J. M. SCHUCH 2,522,304

' BEET LOADER Filed Dec. 26, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A? 7 INVENTOR.

J 4 W i5 /rmm A TTOR/VE Y Patented Sept. 12, 1950 UNITED ,STATES PATENT- OFFICE 2,522,304 em LOADER Joseph M.-Schuch, Unionville, Mich. Application December 26, 1946, Serial No. 718,431

1 This invention relates to beet loaders such as. used in agricultural regions for loading beets from the ground into a truck, wagon, or similar vehicle.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to design a beet loader including a picker reel designed to pick up th beets from the ground, and provide means for'adjusting said pick-.-.up mechanism to suit the nature of the soiland conditions under which the loader is operated. Another object is to provide a loader in which the pick-up reel is designed to crowd and guide the beets towards the center section of the picker, thereby insuring the picking up and loading of all of the beets in the direct path or area traversed by said picker. v A further object is to provide means whereby the carrier means is vertically adjustable by means of a single lever and as a unit; so that "it can be accurately set to follow the contour of the ground over which the machine travelsl A further object still istoprovide lapicker reel frame having its oneend hingedly connected to the main frame with its opposite end slidably supported on the carrier frame. I"

Still a further object is to design a very'simple;

practical, and relatively inexpensive labor-saving beet loader, by means of which the beets are mechanically loaded without the necessity of manual forking and loading.

A further object still is to provide a mobile beet loading machine which can be readily drawn by a tractor or other power vehicle, and by means of which the loading operation is easily and quickly accomplished, thereby materially shorten ing the time required to transport the beets factory or other leading station.

With the above andother objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement ofparts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying draw-j ings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proper tions, and minor details of construction, with out departing from the spirit or sacrificing" any of the advantages of the invention.

In the'drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a top, plan view of my improved beet loading machine.

tion. The numeral 5 indicates the main frame of the machine which is supported on axles -.,6 on which ground-engaging wheels I are jour naled in the uswal manner. Aforwardlypro'j-I jecting tongue 8 forms a part of the frame 5 and is adapted to be attached to atractor or other power vehicleby'means of a suitable hitch (not shown).

An inclined, forwardlyprojecting carrier 9 forms a part of theloader and includes side plates l0 hingedly connected to the main frame at the point H, these plates being connected by means of transversely disposed bars, II, and wheels l2 are journaled on thefront end of the carrier frame as shown. 1

A plurality of spaced-apart rod member's M are mounted on the bars I I and form the bed of the carrier, and anothertransversely disposed bar [5 spans the front end of the carrierframe, a plurality of inclined, spaced-apart teeth 16 being mounted thereon, and the front ends of the teeth are formed with a slight upward bend so that they ride even with or slightly below the, surface of the ground over which theytravel, the rear ends overhanging the front endsof the rodmembers l4 sothat the product being loaded readily flows to theconveyor C. Z p

A reel frame F is associated with the carrier frame 9 and comprises spaced bar members 11, pivotally connected to the main frame at 18,, the outer ends of said bars being slidably mounted in a bifurcated member I9 provided onthe upperi edges of the carrier frame 9. v Q

Bearings 2t! are mounted on th'eouter ends of the members ll, and a picker reel R isjo-urnaled therein, said reel comprising a shaft 2| said shaft Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, side-elevational view thereof. i v

Fig. 3 is a rear-elevational view. v I Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the pttern formed by the picker reel'spokes. y

being drilled to accommodate the nadially dis; posed picker spokes 22 which are mounted therein, each horizontalline of spokes being bowed from end to end to form a predetermined curve,- (see Fig. 4), so that the beets are always forced inwardly towards the center. section of the reel, as indicated by the arrows, thereby insuring'the picking up and loading of all of thebeets and forcing them over the teeth It and onto the corli veyorBof the'carrier. I v I The conveyor C forms a part of the'carrier assembly, and includes spaced-apartshafts '23 and 24 onwhich sprockets 25 and 26 are'mounted';

conveyor chains 2! being trained over these sprockets, and bars or flights 28 connect said chains so that beets thrown on the carrier bed or rods [4 will be carried upwardly towards the rear of the machine and discharge into an elevator trough 29 in which a conventional elevating conveyor E is mounted; thence the beets are elevated and discharged into a truck or wagon, (not shown), as the machine is operated. Cables 30 are anchored to the uprights iii of the carrier superstructure and to the wall of the conveyor trough for suitably bracing and reinforcing said elevator trough.

The carrier C has considerable overhang, and to counterbalance and aid in supporting the front end thereof, springs 32 are connected-to the outer end of the carrier at the point 33, and to the frame uprights 3| at a point above the hinge point H to provide an upward pull on the outer end of the carrier frame, and any lowering of the carrier frame will automatically tension the springs accordingly.

The picker reel frame is tensioned in a manner similar to the carrier frame, similar springs 34 being connected to the members '81 at the point 35, and to the uprights 3i at the point '36, thus providing for necessary flexibility, and it will be apparent that this also provides a resilient mounting that permits the icker reel to accommodate itself to any change in the contour .of the ground over which it travels.

The front end of the carrier structure C is readily adjustable about the pivot point H, a transversely disposed shaft 3! being journaledin suitable bearing provided on the tongue 5, and a link {38 is mounted on said shaft at a point intermediate its length, the forward section of said link being connected to the crossbar H by means of a short chain 39, and a cable A l is connected to the opposite end of said link, said cable leading around sheaves 4i and 42 provided on the uprights 3|, thence leading outwardly and being anchored to the forward end of the carrier frame at the point 43.

A crank 44 is mounted on the one end of the shaft 31, and a link 45 connects the crank i l with the hand lever L which is pivotally mounted on the tongue 8 at the .point 45, a quadrant 41 being mounted on the tongue, and openings 48 are provided therein for engagement by a dog 49 operable from the spring pressed latch mem ber 50 which is slidable on the hand lever.

The carrier frame wheels I2 are mounted in a' wheel yoke 51 as shown, this yoke being connected to the carrier frame at the point 152, said wheels being vertically adjustable in slotted plates 53 which form apart of the yokes and are adjustable independently of the carrier frame. The carrier frame is adjustable by manipulation of the lever L, rocking of the shaft 31 serving to raise .or lower the front end of the frame accordingly.

A motor M is provided on the main frame and a drive gear is provided thereon, a chain 55 leading around said gear, thence around a gear 56 provided on the shaft 23; thence the chain leads up and around a gear 5'! which is mounted on the shaft 58 and thence around the gear 59 provided on the shaft '69.

The picker reel R is also driven from the motor M, a small gear 6| being provided on the shaft 58, and a large gear 62 being provided on the reel shaft 2|, a chain 63 serving to .drivingly connect these gears, so that the picker reel and the conveyor C are simultaneously driven.

The conveyor E is also driven from the motor M, the shaft Ell leading upwardly to a reducer box 64 mounted on the upper end of the trough 29, and this is connected to the upper shaft 6!! in the conventional manner, a universal joint J being provided intermediate the length of the shaft 69 as shown.

In practice, the lever L is operated to raise or lower the front end of the carrier frame C and picker reel the outerend of the reel frame sliding on the carrier frame when the adjustment is made; the motor M is then started to drive the picker reel, conveyor C, and elevator E. the front ends of the teeth It being substantially even with or slightly depressed in the ground, and as the picker reel R is driven, it

throws the beets (not shown) upwardly on the teeth Hz, and onto the conveyor C which carries them upwardly and discharges into the trough 29, the elevator E carrying them upwardly and discharging into a truck or wagon (not shown), that travels along with the loader.

The springs 32 and 34 serve to counterbalance the front end of the carrier frame, and picker reel frame respectively, both of which are readily adjustable by manipulation of the lever L which raises or lowers the frame by means of the linkage and as previously described.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvione that I have perfected a very simple, practical, and substantial beet loader for loading beets and similar agricultural products.

What vI claim is:

1. A beet loading machine of the class de scribed, comprising a mobile mainframa-a transversely disposed loading elevator provided on the rear end thereof, a forwardly extending carrier frame hingedly connected at its rearend to the main frame, a draft tongue forming a part .ef the main frame, vertical osts on said frame, manually operable adjusting lever .on said tongue, sheaves on said posts above said carrier frame, and a cable connected to said lever and trained around said sheaves, with its outer end anchored to the outer end of the carrier frame for vertically adjusting said frame with relation to the surface of the ground when the lever is actuated 2. A beet loading machine :of the class described comprising, a mobile main frame, a transversely disposed loading elevator provided on the rear end thereof, a forwardly extending carrier frame hingedly connected at its rear end to the main frame, wheels on the front end of said carrier frame, a conveyor mounted thereon and I discharging into said loading elevator, a transversely disposed time bar spanning the carrier frame having a plurality of forwardly extending tines mounted thereon and overhanging said conveyor, a picker reel mounted on the carrier frame directly ahead of the time assembly and adapted to cooperate with the tine assembly .to force beets onto the lower end of the conveyor which discharges into said loading conveyor, sheaves on the main frame above the carrier frame, an adjusting lever on the main frame, and flexible means trained over said sheaves and connected to said lever and tothe front end of the carrier frame respectively for vertically adjusting said frame with relation to th surface of the ground when the lever is actuated.

3. A beet loading machine of the class described, comprising a mobile main frame, a transversely disposed loadingelevator provided on the rear end thereof, a forwardly extending carrier frame hingedly connected at itsrear end to the main frame, wheels on the front end of said carrier frame, a conveyor mounted thereon, a transversely disposed tine bar spannin the carrier frame, a forwardly extending tine assembly mounted on the tine bar with one end overhanging said conveyor, a picker reel carried by the carrier frame directly ahead of said tine assembly and adapted to cooperate with the tine assembly to force the beets onto the lower end of the conveyor which discharges into said loading elevator, a draft tongue forming a part of the main frame, vertical posts on said main frame, a manually operable adjusting lever on said tongue, sheaves on said posts above the carrier frame, and a cable connected to said lever and trained around said sheaves with its outer end anchored to the outer end of the carrier frame for vertically adjusting said frame with relation to the surface of the ground when the lever is actuated, and means for driving said conveyor,

*picker reel, and elevator respectively.

4. A loading device of the character described,

' comprising a mobile main frame, a forwardly extending carrier frame hingedly connected to the main frame, wheels on the outer end thereof,

means for adjusting said wheels with relation to said frame, a reel and reel frame mounted on the carrier frame, said reel frame being hingedly connected at its inner end to the main frame, with its outer end slidable on the carrier frame, an elevator trough on the back of the main frame, a loading elevator operable in said trough, a conveyor on the carrier frame and discharging into said elevator trough, posts on the main frame and springs connected to the upper end sections of the posts and to the outer ends of the carrier fname and reel frame respectively. p

5. A beet loading machine of the class described comprising, a mobile main frame including a draft tongue having a manually operable adjusting lever thereon, vertical posts on the main frame, a transversely disposed loading elevator provided on the rear end of said main frame, a forwardly extending carrier frame hingedly connected at its rear end to the main frame, sheaves mounted on said posts above the carrier frame, wheels on the front end of said 6 l carrier frame, a conveyor mounted thereon, a forwardly extendin tine assembly mounted on the carrier frame and overhanging said conveyor, a picker reel on said carrier frame directly ahead of said tine assembly and adapted to cooperate with the tine assembly to force the beets onto the lower end of the conveyor for discharge into said loading conveyor, a cable connected to said adjusting lever and trained around said sheaves with its outer end anchored to the outer end of the carrier frame for vertically adjusting said frame with relation to the surface of the ground when the lever is actuated, and means for driving said conveyor, picker reel, and loading elevator respectively.

6. A beet loading. machine of the class described comprlsing, a mobile main frame, a transversely disposed loading elevator provided on the rear end thereof, a forwardly extending carrier frame hingedly connected at its rear end to the main frame, wheels on the front end of said carier frame, a conveyor mounted thereon, a forwardly extending tine assembly mounted on the carrier frame and overhanging said conveyor, a picker reel on said frame directly ahead of said tine assembly, spokes on said picker reel and arranged to progressively force the beets towards the cention section of the reel, said reel cooperating with the tine assembly to force the beets onto the lower end of the conveyor for discharge into said loading conveyor, and means for driving said conveyor, picker reel, and loading elevator respectively.

1 JOSEPH M. SCHUCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 885,486 Kent Apr. 21, 1908 1,070,065 Pfile Aug. 12, 1913 1,726,604 Amen Sept. 3, 1929 2,174,605 Spencer, Jr. Oct. 3, 1939 2,208,128 Holbrook et a1 July 16, 1940 2,256,830 Johnson Sept. 23,1941 

